Annual shopping frenzy begins
The opening ceremony of this year's Shanghai Shopping Festival was held on Nanjing Road E. in Huangpu District on Friday night.
Shanghai's shopping festival was launched on Friday night, marking the start of the annual shopping frenzy at brick-and-mortar malls.
Malls along Nanjing Road, including the Shanghai New World, the No. 1 Department Store and Wing On Department Store stayed open until 11pm to celebrate the opening of the festival.
The 45-day festival features over 20,000 retail outlets citywide, along with 10 shopping routes designed to meet the demands of different consumers, sales of products from different countries as well as 15 product debuts.
This year's festival aims to highlight the city government's ambition to showcase its shopping brand and develop into an "international consumption city." It is also part of efforts to gear up for the first International import expo which will take place in Shanghai in November.
Huangpu District released its first hand-drawn shopping map on Friday night to make it more convenient for global consumers to shop at downtown stores. The map is available at shopping centers, visitor information centers and hotels on Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road M. and Yuyuan Garden.
Six shopping areas in Huangpu, including Nanjing Road E., Huaihai Road M., Xintiandi and the Bund, will host 30 promotion activities during the festival. As a highlight, the Shanghai Shimao Festival City officially opened on Friday, featuring chic fashion labels and boutique stores. Sitting at the core of the Nanjing Road E. business area, the shopping mall has been closed for a year for a face lift and brand upgrading.
The 82-year-old flagship No.1 Department Store will hold a handcraft carnival to teach consumers various skills. Xintiandi has launched a food festival during the National Day holiday through October 7 featuring 50 popular eateries.
The city's total sales during the shopping festival last year increased by 9.7 percent on the previous year, led by downtown shopping streets such as Huaihai Road M., which had a nearly 20 percent increase in sales.
